Automobile spring



G. LOFFI AUTOMOBILE SPRING Filed Sent. 27. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 AUTOMOBILE SPRING Filed Sent. 27 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a llmilllfiiilil Patented Oct. 28, 1924.

earns AT F l C AUTOMOBILE SPRING Application filed September 27, 1921.

'1 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GEORGE LOFFI, a citizen of the lnited States, residing at Garrett, in the county of De Kalb and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Automobile Spring, of which the following is a specification.

The device forming the subject matter of this application is a vehicle spring, and the invention aims to provide a spring which will possess unusual resiliency and be effective under a heavy load, or when the vehicle passes over an obstacle.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

lVith the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description procoeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what is claimed, changes in precise embodiment of the invention shown can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a detail enlarged from Figure 1, parts being broken away; Figure 3 15 an elevation wherein the structure is viewed at right angles to the showing of Figure 2, parts appearing in elevation; Figure 4 is a section on the line 14@ of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a section on a plane taken at right angles to the cutting plane of Figure 4:. In carrying out the invention, there is provided a cruciform support 1 made up of plates 2 and 3 disposed at right angles to each other, the plates being halved together, at their point of crossing, as indicated at a, the plate 2 being located above the plate 3 at the point where the plates cross. Av spacer 5 rests on the plate 2 and carries the intermediate portion of a main leaf spring 6. U-bolts or like clamping devices, denoted by the numeral 7, extend around the plate 3 and straddle the spring 6, in spaced relation, the U-bolts carrying yokes 8, resting on the spring 6 and held in place by nuts 9 threaded on the U-bolts.

Carrying plates 10 are disposed on opposite sides of the spacer 5 and rest on the plate 3, 1i bowed spring 14: extends trans Serial No. 503,570.

tain the carrying plates 10 and the spring 14 in place' The securing element 15 has a head 16 whereby it may be rotated, a nut 17 being threaded on the securing element, the nut bearing against the plate 3, as shown in Figure 5. If desired, the securing element 15 may be threaded into the plates 2 and 3, at their place of crossing.

The numeral 18 denotes a base plate disposed below the plate 2 and carrying studs 19 mounted to slide in the plate 2. Compression springs 20 surround the studs 19 and bear against the plates 2 and 18. Nuts 21 are threaded on the upper ends of the studs 19 and cooperate with the plate 2, to limit the separation of the plates 2 and 18 under the action of the springs 20.

The numeral 22 denotes an axle. The plate 18 extends longitudinally of the axle 22 and is held thereon by U-bolts 23 and yokes 24, or in other suitable manner. The ends of the spring 6 are attached at 25, in the common way, to the chassis bar 26 of a vehicle frame.

In practical operation the spring 6 will exercise its usual function. In case the vehicle is carrying an unusually heavy load, or when the vehicle passes over an obstacle, the chassis bar 26 will come into contact with the bowed auxiliary spring 14: and the same will be compressed, the additional load, or the strain due to passing over an obstacle, bein taken care of in this way. The springs 20 are adapted to yield and, thus, additional resiliency will be provided.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of a bowed main spring assembled with the frame; a support; a spacer on the support and engaging the main spring; a bowed auxiliary spring disposed transversely of the main spring and extended between the main spring and the frame; means for securing the ends of the auxiliary spring to the spacer; means for securing the spacer to the support; means for securing the main spring to the support; and means for attaching the support to the axle.

2. The combination with the frame and axle of a vehicle, of a bowed main spring assembled with the frame; a support; a spacer on the support and engaging the main spring; a bowed auxiliary spring dis posed transversely of the main spring and extended between the main spring and the frame; means for securing the spacer to the support; means for securing the main spring to the support; means for attaching the support to the axle; and means for securing the ends of the auxiliary spring to the spacer, said means comprising plates disposed on opposite sides of the spacer and united by securing elements which are engaged with the ends of the auxiliary spring, the spacer being cut away so as to overhang and engage the ends of the auxiliary spring.

3. The combination with the frame and versely of the main spring and extended between the main spring and the frame in spaced relation to the. frame; means for connecting the ends of the auxiliary frame to the support; means for connecting the support to the main spring; a plate disposed below the support; means for connecting the plate with the axle; means for connecting the plate with the support for relative vertical movement; and compression springs carried by the last specified means and interposed between the plate and the support.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses;

j GEORGE LOFFI.

Witnesses:

J. E. PoiwmRoY, ALTA POMEROY. 

